Wall mounted friction cap remover



P 1961 E. s. CHAPMAN 3,001,425

WALL MOUNTED FRICTION CAP REMOVER Filed Oct. 9, 1958 BAR MAGNET 22 INVENTOR. EUGENE S. CHAPMAN BY Mm ATTORNEY U d S tes '3 3,001,425 1 WALL MOUNTED FRICTION CAP REMOVER Eugene S. Chapman, Louisville, Ky. (28 32 Christie Place, Gwensboro, Ky.) Filed Get. 9, H58, Ser. No. 766,297 Claims. (CI. 81-33) This invention relates to Wall mounted friction cap removers, i.e. wall mounted devices for removing frictional caps from containers presenting a shoulder underlying the rim of the cap.

Friction cap removers of the wall type have heretofore been developed for use with relatively small caps such as are found on soda water and like bottles. So far as is known, no one has heretofore developed a satisfactory Wall mounted device capable of removing either: the larger sizes of friction caps, such as are found on the wide mouth jar; or any size of cap. within a large range extending from the small sized bottle cap to the large sized wide-mouth jar cap.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simply and sturdily constructed wall mounted friction cap remover which is capable of removing caps ranging in size from the small bottle caps to the large wide-mouth jar caps, which is inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, mount and dismount, which is easy to operate, and which is most satisfactory and effective in operation.

.So far as is known, friction cap removers of the wall type have heretofore been universally constructed in a manner permitting them to be mounted only on a verti-' cal wall. It has been my experience that in many kitchens and other locations, such removers could be more conveniently located, if mounted ona horizontal wall and particularly on the underside thereof.

Another important object, therefore, is to provide a friction cap remover which, at the option of the user, can be mounted on a vertical wall or on the top or bottom side of a horizontal wall, and which operates, through a short stroke in one direction, to effect the removal of a cap and, through a return stroke, to reset itself automatically.

It is generally old to use permanent bar magnets in connection with container openers for the purpose of serving the convenience of the operator by removably holding the lid, which is removed from the container. Generally speaking, these magnets restrict access to the remover sufficiently to interfere with its operation.

()ther important objects are, therefore, to provide a wall type friction cap remover, with a simple, effective and highly superior permanent magnet arrangement, and, more particularly, to provide such type of remover with a; bar magnet which is normally held in an out-of-theway position where it does not interfere with the operation of the remover but which moves with the remover to pick up a removed cap during the removal stroke and, during the resetting stroke, to carry that cap into the normal outof-the-way position of the magnet where the cap may be removed at the leisure of the operator.

Frictional cap jars customarily present a prying space between the cap and an underlying annular shoulder. In hand operated friction cap removers of the plier type, a pair of jaws is inserted into such space and operated by bracing the lower jaw against the shoulder while levering the upper jaw upwardly against the rim of the cap suf ficiently to pry that rim from its seat on the jar.

v I have found that the principal objects of the present invention may be achieved simply by (l) spacing a pair of such jaws from a wall bracket, (2) interconnecting them with the spaced bracket by means which mounts them for back and forth movement bodily between a front cap receiving position and a rear cap off posi tion and which actuates them in a manner causing the; jaws to open as they move rearwardly and to close as they move forwardly, and (3) biasing them forwardly to-, ward their front cap receiving position.

With this arrangement, when a jar is manually positioned with its prying space encompassing the closed jaws, a short rearward thrust of the jar against the device is all that is necessary to move the jaws bodily to their cap? off position and, during such movement, to open them to the degree required to pry the cap from the jar. The moment the cap is removed from the jar, the latter free to be removed from the device, which thereupon operates automatically to reset itself, i.e.. to return the" jaws to their original position.

I have also found that other important objects of the present invention may be achieved by (1) mounting a permanent magnet on the interconnecting means at an elevation such that, when the device is in the cap r e' ceiving position, the magnet is spaced upwardly from the upper jaw sufiiciently to avoid interference with the use of the device in removing the cap, and then (2) utilizing the opening movement of the upper jaw to reduce the vertical space between it and the magnet, during the capremoving stroke or thrust, sufficiently to bring the magnet into' operative relationship with a removed cap at the end of the removal stroke. With this arrangement the magnet will normally be in an out-of-the-way position. However, during the removal stroke, it is brought, automatically into a position where it picks up the reef moved cap and then, during the return stroke, it moves" automatically back to its original position carrying the lid with it and thereby holding the lid in an out-of-theway position where it may remain until the operator finds it convenient to remove it. An embodiment of'the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof showing the device. in its normal cap receiving position, this view omitting" the magnet; f FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the permanent magnet, attachment; FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the jaws as they; appear in FIG. 1; FIGS. 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views taken along a line corresponding to the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, these views showing the device in its cap receiving and cap off positions respectively and also showing, in each position, the relationship of the magnet to the device in full lines, and to a jar of the frictional cap type which is shown in dotted lines; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the relationship of the jaws with the frictional cap of a jar: at the end of the removal operation. I

The cap removing tool illustrated in the drawing comprises: a wall bracket; a pair of jaws; interconnecting. means; biasing means; and magnetic means.

Wall bracket The wall bracket 1 is in the form of a sheet metal strip bent to an L-shape so as to include a vertical back plate, also designated 1, and a horizontal top plate 2. To strengthen the bracket, a pair of indentations are ar ranged to cross the corner or bend between the plates. while the lower end 3 of the back plate and the front end of the top plate are suitably flanged.

The wall bracket may be mounted on a vertical wall or on the top or bottom side of a horizontal wall. In many installations, it will be preferred to mount the device on the underside of a kitchen wall cabinet or other. horizontal surface above a kitchen work surface; hence,

V 3 the underside form of mounting is illustrated in the drawing.

Jaws

Only one pair of jaws is used and these comprise a lower jaw 5 and an upper jaw 6. The particular form of these laws is not important so long as they are designed and dimensioned to work properly in the available space. Since that space may be relatively small, vertically at least, the vertical dimension of the jaws, when closed, should be minimized. For this reason, one jaw is forked to provide horizontally spaced tines while the other jaw is cut away to provide a tongue which will fit within the space between tines.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower jaw is in the form of a flat tongue of metal having the side marg ins of its front end portion cut away to reduce its width and of its rear end portion flanged downwardly for strengthening purposes. The upper jaw 6 is in the form of a pair of horizontally Spaced forks, also designated 6, having their front ends turned upwardly to provide hooks 7. and their rear ends integrally connected to the upper front corners of the side walls 8 of an upwardly open channel, also designated 8, which has a bight 9 constitinting its bottom face.

Interconneczing means The interconnecting means extend from said wall bracket to said jaws and is connected to both. More particu larly, the interconnecting means includes: means mounting said jaws on said wall for joint'rearward and forward movements bodily between jar receiving and cap E positions; and actuating means for effecting the relative opening and closing movements of the jaws during their rearward and forward movements respectively.

Mounting means The mounting means comprises a front leg 11 pivoted through pin 12 at its upper end to a lip 13, which de-' pends downwardly from the wall bracket, and connected at its lower end rigidly to the lower jaw and pivotally to the upper jaw 6 through a pivot M, which passes through the side walls of the upper jaw channel 8. The front leg 11 preferably is in the form of a rearwardly open metal channel having a bight which constitutes its front face and side walls which give it strength and facilitate the reception of the pivotal connections required at its upper and lower ends, these side walls being inwardly flanged for strengthening purposes.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the front leg 11 can be swung forwardly and rearwardly about pivot 12 between suitable extreme positions constituting the forward jar receiving position and the rearward 'cap ofl? position. In swinging between these positions, the front leg bodily carries the jaws 5 and 6 with it.

In the structure illustrated, it will now be observed that the lower jaw, which constitutes the foot-like extension of the front leg, extends horizontally at a given elevation in the forward jar receiving position and inclines forwardly downward at a lower elevation in the cap off position. Since the lower jaw is rigidly c0nnected to the front leg, the upper jaw must be actuated relatively thereto to effect the opening and closing movement as the front leg swings rearwardly and forwardly.

Actuating means The actuating means functions to swing the upper jaw 6' angularly about its pivotal connection 14 with the lowor jaw 5 and front leg 11 and thereby move it relatively to these parts in a direction such that the jaws open as the structure swings rearwardly and closes. as it returns forwardly. While this may be accomplished in various ways, it is readily accomplished simply by holding, actuating or guiding the upper jaw so that it remains in a horizontal position at all times.

The actuating..means comprises: a rear leg. 16 pivoted through pin 17 at its upper end to lip 13 of the wall bracket and through pin 18 at its lower end to a rigid rearward extension of the channel 8 of the upper jaw 6. The rear leg 16 preferably is in the form of a forwardly open metal channel having a bigh-t which constitutes its rear face and side walls which give itv strength andfacilitate the reception of its upper and lower end pivotal connections, these side walls also being inwardly flanged for strengthening purposes. The rear leg 16 can be slightly longer or shorter than the front leg but preferably the pivot-to-pivot length of each leg is the same. it preferably is parallel to the. front leg but this isnt essentiaL.

With this. arrangement it will be noted: that the mount: ing means (including, front leg 11 and lower pivot 14) holds both jaws at a given elevation in the-forward jar receiving position and a slightly lower elevation in the rear cap off position and causes the rigid lower jaw to change frcma horizontal .jar receiving position to a forwardly inclined cap off position; and thatithe actuating means (including rear leg 16 and its lower pivot 18) moves the upper jaw angularly about the mounting means pivot 14 in such a way as to cause it to remain horizontal at all times. As aconsequence, the jaws pro: gressively open as they move rearwardly and. close as they move forwardly.

Bias means mounting means and is connected to both.

Magnet means In further accordance with my invention, a permanent magnet 22 is mounted on one leg of the interconnecting means, preferably the front leg 11, for movement there with between a jar receiving position, in which the magnet is spaced upwardly from the lid, to a cap off position, in which the magnet extends closely to the position of a newly removed lid. To this end, the bar magnet 22 is removably or permanently mounted in the outer end of an arm 23, the inner end of which is pro vided with resilient forks 24 which may be sprung over the front leg to grip it frictionally and firmly at a desired elevation. This elevation should be such that, in the cap off position, the magnet will extend parallel to and have its lower surface in engagement with the top surface of a newly removed lid. With the magnet frictionally mounted on the front leg, it may of course he slidably adjusted to its. desired position.

Operation My frictional cap removing device is primarily intended for use with containers of the type conventionally including: a jar 26 having an outer annular cap receiving head 27 encircling its upper mouth end and an up wardly facing annular shoulder 28 spaced slightly below head 27; and a frictional cap or lid 30 having a depending rim 31 enclosing a rubber sealing ring 322 whichis frictionally and firmly or snugly seated upon the jar head 27. Normally, the lower end of the rim is inwardly turned toward the jar to grip the sealing ring 32 securely. Normally also, the inwardly turned lower end of the rim is not only spaced horizontally outward from that portion of the jar immediately below the bead 7.7 but also spaced vertically upward from the shoulder 28. This space is herein designated as the prying space '34 because it is used by tools which effect the removal of frictional caps by a prying operation.

In use, a jar is manually moved into a position wherein the closed jaws of the device are received into the prying space 34 of the jar. The removal of the cap from that jar is effected simply by thrusting the jar rearwardly in the direction required to move the jaws rearwardly from their cap receiving position to their cap otf position wherein the rear actuating leg 16 strikes the wall bracket flange 3 which functions as a stop. During this movement, the jaws are moved from their fully closed position to their fully open position.

As the jaws initially begin to open, the upper jaw 6 moves upwardly into engagement with the lower end of the rim 3]. while the lower jaw 5 moves downwardly into engagement with the jar shoulder 28. Thereafter, as the rearward movement is completed, the lower jaw remains in contact with the shoulder 23 while the upper jaw moves relatively upward. In doing so, the upper jaw pries the lid from its seat upon the jar. Naturally the jar may be disengaged and freely removed from the device at the instant of cap removal, permitting it to spring back automatically to its cap receiving position. Normally it will be disengaged therefrom during or at the end of the return stroke.

Where a magnet is used, it normally extends in a position which is spaced upwardly from the lid sufiiciently to avoid interference with the operation of the device at the beginning of the removal operation. However, during the removal operation, the magnet swings rearwardly downward sufliciently to bring it into engagement with the removed cap. During the return movement of the jaws and associated parts, the magnet carries the removed cap forwardly upward to the normal out-of-theway position of the magnet and holds it there where it can be readily removed at the convenience of the operator.

It will be appreciated that my device, positioned with its legs inclining forwardly downward or forwardly upward, may be mounted on either vertical or horizontal walls for use with upright jars so long as there is sufficient space available to accommodate the jar. Where the jar does not have to be held in an upright position during the cap removing operation, my device may be mounted with its legs extending in some other position, which suits the convenience of the cap removing operation. Thus, the device may be mounted for vertical movement, from an upper cap receiving position to a lower cap removing position, where the contents of the jar permit its being held in a horizontal position.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool for removing frictional caps from closed containers presenting a horizontal outwardly-open prying space which is delimited on its lower side by the upper surface of a shoulder on the container and on its upper side by the lower edge of the rim of the cap, comprising: a wall bracket; a pair of jaws spaced from said wall bracket and connected together for jaw opening and closing movements, said jaws being adapted, when closed, to fit into the prying space of a closed container which is operatively positioned for the cap removal operation; and interconnecting means extending across the space between said wall bracket and said jaws and connected to both so as to mount said jaws on said wall bracket for backward and forward movement relative thereto and bodily between a forward cap-receiving position, wherein said jaws are closed, and a rear cap-off position wherein said jaws are open, said interconnecting means being operative, during said backward movement, to open said jaws for cap-removing purposes and, during said forward movement, to close said jaws.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein: said wall bracket includes a horizontal wall through which the tool may be mounted on a horizontal surface and a vertical rear wall through which it may be mounted on a vertical surface.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein: said wall bracket has vertical flange means on its horizontal wall; and said interconnecting means is connected to said wall bracket through said flange means.

4. The tool of claim .1 wherein: said interconnecting means includes a leg having an inner end pivotally connected to said wall bracket and an outer end connected to one of said jaws.

5. The tool of claim 1 wherein: said interconnecting means includes a front leg having an inner end pivotally connected to said bracket and its outer end portion forming one of said jaws and being pivotally connected to said other jaw; and means for actuating said other jaw about its pivotal connection to said front leg to effect said opening and closing movement of the jaws.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein: said actuating means IS in the form of a rear leg having an inner end pivotally connected to said bracket and an outer end pivotally connected to a rearward extension of said other jaw.

7. The tool of claim 6 wherein: the shortest distance between the pivotal connections at the inner and outer ends of the front leg is substantially the same as that between the corresponding pivotal connections of the rear leg.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein: said front and rear legs are substantially parallel to each other.

9. The tool of claim 1 including: means mounting a magnet for movement with the interconnecting means relatively to the bracket and bodily between positions corresponding to the cap-receiving and cap-ofi positions of said jaws, said magnet being located a fixed distance from one jaw and at a distance from the other jaw that decreases as the jaws are moved from the cap-receiving position to the cap-off position.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein: said interconnecting means includes a front leg having an inner end pivotally connected to said bracket and an outer end terminating in said one jaw; and said magnet mounting means mounts said magnet on said front leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,250,448 Green Dec. 18, 1917 2,168,832 Tilfault Aug. 8, 1939 2,570,881 Stewart Oct. 9, 1951 2,576,800 Mendel-man Nov. 27, 1951 2,624,219 Dreier Jan. 6, 1953 2,675,721 Kramer et a1. Apr. 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,662 Italy May 28, 1930 

